aefibird

I'd say that if you want to train for San Shou then you need to find a good instructor. Much better to learn from a real person than from a training video.

Yes! At least because I always train hard and do my best I can be proud of myself regardless of what judges think. It would be if I slack off in training and perform weak in competition that I should get angry - with myself.

Well, as you're already a "striker" from learning TKD, how about complimenting your striking skills by learning a grappling art such as Aikido, Judo or Ju Jitsu? It would help you to become more 'rounded' as a martial artist and also give you a chance to try something that you've not done before. Good luck with the trip to Japan!

Thanks I know what you mean now. I understand the concept, just never heard it termed Fa Jing before.

I'd say that if someone repeatedly gets into fights (even if they didn't throw the first punch) then they have no place in a dojo. However, there's a difference between someone who repeatedly gets into trouble and someone who finds themselves in a situation one time. I'd say each case needs to be dealt with on an individual basis, rather than applying a 'law' to all such incidents.

It's always sad to hear of the passing of fellow martial artists, especially those who have really served the MA community, such as the gentlemen mentioned. My condolences to their families and their students.

I'm not sure. Someone else sent me the link to that vid, so I thought I'd post it here for others to see.

Well done Scad!! You got some pictures of you with your "bling"?

The thing about the ground is that it is a nasty and dirty place from which to fight, especially as many fights take place outdoors and often outside some dive of a pub, rather than in a nice clean dojo (with matting). It's great if you can keep a fight from going to the ground - in many street altercations standing is safer than on the ground. However, if you get sent to the ground then getting back up should be a major priority and this is often where a lot of striking-based schools & clubs 'fall down' (ho, ho, geddit?? ). They teach excellent punching techniques (although bony areas striking on bony areas is a big no-no, as are teeth and knuckles) and probably even incorporate some sweeps and probably throws too. However, a lot of striking stylists are not trained in being able to actually get back up quickly and safely if they get thrown or swept or tackled to the ground. This is one key area that I think more striking stylists need to work on; even if you're not into grappling its an important aspect of MA training IMO.

Well done to you and your son!! Great achievements!

Ask your friend to come along and take some Shotokan classes. Tell him/her that if he/she does that then you'll go and do a little Judo with them. That way you both get to experience each others arts and can learn from one another (hopefully!)

To me he looked more TKD than the TKD guy - side on stance, turning & spinning, bouncing around etc.

Good post Drag'n! You made some good points.

I like to see double broadswords, staff, chain or moon axe forms.

I think that there will always be poor judgement and bias in tournaments. It's just one of those things. For example a few weeks ago I came 3rd in Traditional Forms at a competition. The lady who was in 2nd Place had actually stopped half way through her kata and walked off as she couldn't remember it. However, her instructor and a friend of her instructor were 2 out of the 3 judges... This lady was very embarassed about it and actually came to apologise to me afterwards for me 'only' getting 3rd. I didn't mind - bad judging is one of those things and if that instructor really wants to promote his student so much and let her win then OK. It's no biggie to me if someone is going to be obviously so biased! Anyway, there are some competitions where the judges really try to be fair and to judge everyone equally on that performance at that moment. Some judges, however, think they can get away with murder. That's life I suppose... :-/

There's plenty of points and full contact (continuous) Open tournaments in the UK. I usually do both types but prefer continuous to stop-start.

I always do traditional weapons divisions and usually do a Bo or Jo form. However, I've also used Niton Bo, Sai and Kama. I've yet to use Nunchaku in competition but I may do so this year.

Spirit, technique, determination, assertiveness (although, acting like you're the greatest thing since sliced bread isn't a good idea...just be confident in your ability and the fact that you CAN do it!) I know what you mean. Yes, keeping your feet parallel in Heian 1 is important. The feet should point forwards in front stance, like they do when you're just walking. Having your back foot turned out in front stance is a bad habit to get into. Don't worry if it makes you go a bit slower - slower but with correct stance/correct techniques is far better than speed but poor technique and poor stances. Lots and lots of practice and lots and lots of stretching! Practice standing in DEEP stances every day. That way, when you come to perform your kata and your stances are a little higher than what you've been practicing standing in, it will feel natural and you will be able to move quickly. If you train in really really low, deep stances then your movements will be quicker in higher stances. Try stretching every day and work on your leg muscles. Cycling and jogging can help, as can swimming. Make sure that you do some stretching every day as flexibility is hard earned but easily lost. Having good flexibility will help you in your stances. Finally, good luck with the competition! Try not to worry too much about it, just go and do your best and HAVE FUN! Let us know how you get on.

Concentrate on what you CAN do, rather than thinking "well, they might do this, so I shoud do that". Keep your guard and keep your cool.

That's cool!

I got to try a little Capoeira last year at a Martial Arts show (SENI, for those who know what that is). It was good fun and I certainly learned a lot. I'd say it was a martial art - when the advanced students were giving a demonstration it looked pretty darn deadly and effective to me. As for learning it, it seemed to me to be a little like Aikido, in the sense that to learn it to be able to use it effectively takes many many years.

TKD vs Muay Thai Micah Brook, Olympic TKD 2004 TKD vs Kyokushin TKD in K1 WTF 1 WTF 2 WTF 3 TKD Kicking I thought number 3 was interesting... good kick at the end! However, the Kyokushin guy doesn't look very Kyokushin to me. It took me a few moments to figure out which fighter was TKD and which was KK. It was only the black collar on the TKD guy's dobok that gave it away.

Grat point DCMS! TKD has excellent street elements in it (although, as you point out it is lacking in some areas, just as all other martial arts are). It's how those areas are trained and by whom that make the art less effective than it could be. Many people diss TKD as being weak or ineffective or unsuitable for "da streetz" - IMO, it's not the art that is at fault in many cases but the practitioners!! TKD is a great striking style, it's just a pity that there are a lot of instructors out there who teach garbage.

I totally agree, though, during my 14 years of TKD, I was told by many high ranking Instructors/Officials that jumping kicks were for dismounting riders by labourers who were working in paddy fields. A load of 'toffee' if you ask me as you're better off giving the horse a right cross!!! DCMS. IMO there's better ways to disable and dismount a rider than with a flying kick, no matter how small their horse or slight the rider. I posted quite a lot about this subject in a thread on another forum - I shall have to see if I can find my post and copy it to here. Yeah, right cross. Great horse fighting attack!!

Yes, as a representation of MT and of TKD both fighters were pretty poor (average at best). Not a good clip to really highlight the differences and similarities between the two arts.